Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           NeartheheadofthestairstheyencounteredPresleyandCedarquist,whohadjustcomeoutofthewineroom.

           Magnus,stillonfirewiththenewidea,pressedafewquestionsuponthemanufacturerbeforebiddinghimgood-bye.Hewishedtotalkfurtheruponthegreatsubject,interestedastodetails,butCedarquistwasvagueinhisreplies.Hewasnofarmer,hehardlyknewwheatwhenhesawit,onlyheknewthetrendoftheworld’saffairs;hefeltthemtobesettinginevitablyeastward.

           However,hisveryvaguenesswasafurtherinspirationtotheGovernor.Hesweptdetailsaside.Hesawonlythegrandcoup,thehugeresults,theEastconquered,themarchofempirerollingwestward,finallyarrivingatitsstartingpoint,thevague,mysteriousOrient.

           Hesawhiswheat,likethecrestofanadvancingbillow,crossingthePacific,burstinguponAsia,floodingtheOrientinagoldentorrent.Itwasthenewera.Hehadlivedtoseethedeathoftheoldandthebirthofthenew;firstthemine,nowtheranch;firstgold,nowwheat.Onceagainhebecamethepioneer,hardy,brilliant,takingcolossalchances,blazingtheway,graspingafortune—amillioninasingleday.Allthebignessofhisnatureleapedupagainwithinhim.Atthemagnitudeoftheinspirationhefeltyoungagain,indomitable,theleaderatlast,kingofhisfellows,wrestingfromfortuneatthiseleventhhour,beforehisoldage,theplaceofhighcommandwhichsolonghadbeendeniedhim.Atlasthecouldachieve.

           AbruptlyMagnuswasawarethatsomeonehadspokenhisname.